Reverse gear construction for outboard motor



March 27, 1956 ARMSTRONG EI'AL 2,739,560

REVERSE GEAR CONSTRUCTION FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11 1951 .F'J'El.

6 7. w i RTL. N F r H a M? .7 $2 I March 27, 1956 D. A. ARMSTRONG ETAI- REVERSE GEAR CONSTRUCTION FOR OUTBOARD MOTOR Filed April 11, 1951 a E u M mm 0 N 2 w wwmqhw & x .m" 1 v Q n V L m m a i v s m R mf ohm .vm Q R R .1 N m M [I a F 1 NF H J. a. .w m RR V R2 Qmm smm H b om M W \3 7 mm mm W O N N \afln ,2, RT f m V i Nb V1 fi m a I 3 A u I v. |l W\ Q M m whm\ I B V Q HI In ll #1 N N x MIW\A\ HHVITIYI NW A x 3% .k +1 I M I Yw F N? m @w REVERSE GEAR CQNSTRUCTION FOR OUTBUARD MOTOR Daniel A. Armstrong, Thiensville, Wis, and Goths J. Carlson, Minneapolis, Minn assignors to facott-Atwater Manufacturing Co. line, Minneapolis, Mirna, a corpo ration of Minnesota Applicafion April 11, 1951, Serial No. 220,598

6 Claims. (Cl. 11518) This invention relates to an outboard motor and particularly to a gear shifting structure thereof.

While it has been the general practice to have the propeller on an outboard motor driven only in one direction, in the last couple of years the manufacturers have tended to make such motors with a gear shift mechanism so that the propeller can be driven in either direction or the drive of the motor placed in neutral.

It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, efficient and very practical structure of gear shifting mechanism particularly adapted for use on an outboard motor.

it is a further object of the invention to provide a gear shift mechanism for an outboard motor comprising a casing, a propeller shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller secured to said shaft on one side of said casing, a beveled gear secured to said propeller shaft within said casing, a drive shaft and beveled gears mounted on said drive shaft meshing with said first mentioned beveled gear at opposite sides thereof, said last mentioned beveled gears having adjacent ends with clutch teeth thereon, a clutch member secured to said drive shaft having clutch teeth on it ends disposed between said last mentioned beveled gears and adapted to be moved into engagement therewith respectively, and means for moving said clutch member.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the center of the drive shaft and propeller shaft, a portion of the propeller and securing means being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section through an upper portion of the outboard motor, the same being taken centrally of the drive shaft, a portion of the motor being shown in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a partial view in side elevation showing clutch teeth used;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in vertical section taken just below and on the same plane as Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the lower end of the drive shaft with other parts shown in side elevation, and showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figs. 1 and 2, portions of an outboard motor are shown including a casing 10, part of the power head 9, and the fly wheel 3. The lower end a of said casing 10 forms the usual skeg used on an outboard motor. Casing 10 is formed with a recess in its rear side in which a rear plate 1% is fitted, said plate being secured by the screw 11. Casing 10 has a portion 190 extending thereacross below which is a chamber 10d. Portions 10c is bored at its lower side to receive a bearing 12 illustrated as a needle bearing. The lower portion of casing 10 below chamber 10:! is bored to receive a bearing 14 illustrated a a needle bearing. The bore receiving bearing 14, is shown as of in- 2,739,560 Patented Mar. 27, 1956 verted conical shape at its lower end and a ball 15 is disposed in the bottom of this recess. The usual drive shaft 18 is journaled in bearings 12 and 14, the same having its lower end bearing on the ball 15. Said drive shaft as usual is connected to the crank shaft of the motor. The portion 1% has a bore at its outer end in which is disposed a bearing 19 illustrated as a needle bearing. A propeller shaft 20 i journaled in bearing 19 and the same has secured thereto the usual propeller 22. Said propeller can be secured in any suitable manner, as by a pin 23. A pair of washers 24- engage the outer side of propeller 22 and are held in place by a conical nut 26 threaded on shaft 20. Portion 10b at its inner side is recessed to receive bearing 28 which may be ball bearings. A beveled gear 30 is secured to propeller shaft 2th in any suitable manner, as by the pin 31. Said beveled gear has a hub journaled in bearings 28, said gear having a hub engaging one side of bearings 28. A washer 31 is secured in the hub of gear 30 at the outer side of bearings 28. A beveled gear or pinion 32 is rotatably mounted on drive shaft 18 and the hub thereof at its top engages a washer 34 secured to shaft 18 by a pin 35 passing through said washer and shaft. A circular plate or washer 36 is disposed on shaft 18 above washer 34, the same engaging the bottom of bearing 12. Washer 36 has a rib 36a seating in portion 10c to prevent rotation of said washer. Gear 32 is bored to receive a bushing 38. Bushing 38 and washers 34 and 36 will be preferably made of anti-friction metal. The gear 32 is also recessed at its end to receive a portion 32:: which is secured to gear 32 and is provided at its end with clutch teeth 32b.

Another beveled gear or pinion 40 is rotatably mounted on drive shaft 18, the same meshing with gear 30, as does gear or pinion 32. A plate 41 is set into the bottom of chamber 10d, the same having a tongue or rib 40a set into said bottom portion. Plate 41 overlies bearing 14. Gear 40 has a hub bored to fit over a bushing 43 and said gear is journaled on said bushing. Gear 40 is held in place by a set screw 44 having a reduced end portion ex tending into an annular groove 18:: in drive shaft 18. Gear 40 is recessed to receive a portion 40a which is secured thereto and is provided with clutch teeth 40b.

A clutch member 46 is provided, the same being slid able on shaft 18. Clutch member 46 has slots 46a at either side into which project the ends of a pin 47 passing through shaft 13. Clutch member 46 has clutch teeth 46b at each end adapted to mesh with the clutch teeth on the ends of gears 32 and 41 respectively. As shown in Fig. 3, the clutch teeth 32]), 41b and 46b have end surfaces 326, 41c and 460 respectively which are at an angle to the axis of shaft 18. This structure permits the clutch teeth to mesh and to be separated more easily. Clutch member 46 has an annular groove 46d in its periphery into which extends a forked portion 48a of a member 48 which has a cylindrical portion 48]) disposed in, fitting in and slidable in a bore 10b in portion 106. A rod 50 has its lower end threaded into portion 48b, said rod extending upwardly through a sleeve 52 which in turn is disposed in bushing 53 which is carried in a hub 54a forming part of a bracket 54. Bracket 54 is pivoted by a pivot 54b to a bracket 55 having spaced portions 55a which are adapted to embrace the transom of a boat to which bracket 55 will be secured by screws (not shown) which will be disposed in tapped holes 5519-. A member 49 has a hub 49a in which bushing 53 fits and through which it passes. Member 49 is connected to a portion 10g of casing 10. A layer of yielding or resilient material 71 is disposed between flanges on casing 10 and hub 49a, which flanges are connected by bolts 4%. The upper end of rod 50 is reduced and threaded into the upper end of sleeve 52 and thus connected thereto. The said reduced end of rod 50 above sleeve 52 is connected by a pivot 56 to a short link57 in turn connected by a pivot 58 to one end of a lever 59 fulcrumed on a pin 60 carried in a lug 49g on member 49. The reduced end of rod 50 is threaded into the solid and of sleeve 52, as shown in Fig. 2. Sleeve 52 therefore moves with link 57 and rod 50. The other end of lever '59 is pivotally connected by a pivot 61 to a rod 62 which extends upwardly and has its upper end pivotally connected by a pivot 63 to a bell crank lever 64 fulcrumed on a pin 65 mounted in casing member 49. The other end of lever 64 is pivotally connected by a pivot 66 to a rod 6'7 which is connected to a semi-circular plate-like end portion 68a of a handle 68 mounted for swinging movement about a pin 69 secured in member 49. Member 49 has a portion adjacent the portion 63a having therein three recesses 49c, 49d and 49@ respectively. Handle 68 has a hub portion 68b bored to receive one end of a sliding rod 70 which also extends through a bore 68c in handle 68. Rod 70 is urged toward pivot 69 by a compression coiled spring 72 having one end engaging handle 63 and its other end engaging a washer 73 held in position on rod '70 by a pin '74. A second handle 76 has a hub apertured for the passage of rod 70 and has an upper portion extending through a slot 630 in handle 68. Handle 63 is shown as having a covering 68c which will be made of some such substance as rubber.

A rod forms a stop for the forward position of bracket 54. The sleeve 52 extends downwardly below the lower end of bushing 53 and has its lower end secured to a plate 78 extending forwardly and secured to the lower end of a rod 79. Rod 79 has a reduced portion extending through plate 78 and a nut 80 is threaded on said reduced end and engages a washer 82 engaging the bottom of plate 78. Washer 82 may be a split spring washer. Rod 79 extends upwardly through a bore in the lower end of hub 54a and is surrounded by a compression coiled spring 84 engaging a top surface on hub 54:: at its lower end and engaging a plate 85 at its upper end. Rod 79 passes through plate 85 and through an aperture therein of greater diameter than rod 79, said rod being equipped with a nut 86 threaded thereon and engaging the top of plate 85, said nut 86 being shown as having a beveled lower end. Plate 85 has a lug 85a thereon which is pivoted by a pivot 87 to the lower part of bracket 55. Plate 85 at its front end has a downwardly extending portion 85b. Bracket 55 has a portion at its lower end in which are formed recesses having surfaces 55c. The bushing 53 extends through resilient bushings 90 disposed in a hub 10 of casing 10 and the same has its lower end threaded and equipped with a nut 91 engaging a flanged sleeve 92 having a portion extending into bushing 90 and a flange engages the bottom of said bushing. A similar flanged bushing 93 is disposed in the top of upper bushing 90.

in operation, when the motor is operated, shaft 18 will be driven and clutch member 46 will revolve with said shaft. When the clutch is in the position shown in Fig. l, the device will be in neutral and propeller 22 will not be driven. Rod 70 will then occupy the middle recess 49:! in arm 49 When the device is to be put into forward position, the operator will take hold of handle portion 682 and pull on member 76 with one or more fingers. This will retract rod 70 from the recess 49a and the handle 63c will then be swung in a clockwise direction until rod 70 is in alinement with recess 49c. Said rod will then be permitted to enter recess 4% by operation of spring 72. Such motion will move rod 67 to the right, as seen in Fig. 2, which will move rod 62 upwardly, swinging lever 59 about its pivot 60 and lowering link 57 and rod 50. This will move member 48 and clutch member 46 downwardly so that the teeth 46b will engage the teeth 40b on gear 40. Gear 40 will now be driven and beveled gear 30 will be driven, thus rotating propeller shaft 20 and the propeller 22 The motor will now be driven so as to propel a boat to which it is attached forwardly. When it is desired to put the device in reverse, the operator will hold handle 68c and pull back on member 76, thus moving rod 70 from recess 492. Handle 68c will then be moved in a counter-clockwise direction until rod 70 is alined with recess 49c. Rod 70 will be permitted to move into recess 490 by action of spring'72. Such movement of handle 63:: will move rod 67 to the left, as shown in Fig. 2, thus moving rod 62 downwardly and swinging lever 59 so as to move link 57 upwardly. This will move rod 50 upwardly so that member 48 will move upwardly and will move clutch member 46 to bring the clutch teeth 46b into engagement with the clutch teeth 32b on gear 32. Gear 32 will now be driven and gear 30 will be rotated and will rotate shaft 20 and propeller 22. Propeller 22 will be rotated in a direction to propel the boat to which the motor is attached, rearwardly. Sleeve 52 is moved with link 57 and when rod 50 is moved upwardly as stated, sleeve 52 will be moved upwardly and will move plate 78 to which it is attached upwardly. This will move rod 79 upwardly and plate 85 will be swung about its pivot 87 so as to swing portion 85b downwardly. Portion 85b will now come into alinement with the surface 55c. If it is now attempted to swing bracket 54 rearwardly, this will be prevented by engagement of portion 55b with portion 55c. The propeller will thus be prevented from swinging the lower part of the motor upwardly about pivot 54b. The bracket 54 may be in dilferent positions in its movement about pivot 54b and portion 85b could engage with one of the other surfaces 550 in the recesses in the bottom of bracket 55. When shaft 18 is driven, the washer 34 bears against the bottom of plate 36 which is made of anti-friction metal. The thrust of gear32 when rotated is thus taken by plate 34 which also rotates with the shaft. The thrust of gear 40 is taken by plate 41 which is of anti-friction metal.

It will be seen that member 49 is connected to the casing 10 and casing 10 and parts carried thereby is as usual swingable about the central axis of the hub 54a and bushing 53 for steering. Member 49 can be swung laterally by handle 68 and said handle thus constitutes the steering handle. Member 49 is connected to casing 10 with the resilient member 71 therebetween and is also connected to the casing through the sleeve 53 which passes through the hub of member 49 and through hub 10 of the casing. The plate 71 and the resilient bushings 90 thus form a yielding means between member 49 and the casing and this will relieve the shock and vibration ofithe engine on handle 68. It makes a very convenient manner of shifting to have the shiftshandle or finger piece 76 right on the grip handle. The operator can thus shift when it is desired without releasing the grip handle which he is usually holding while operating the motor. Bracket 54 is also connected to the casing as sleeve 53 passes through hub 54a and also through hub 10 Casing 10 and parts carried thereby swing with the bracket 54 as usual when the lower part of the motor is swung upwardly.

In Fig. 5 a modification is shown in which a clutch member is provided which is secured to the driving shaft 101 of the motor by a pin 102. Clutch member 100 is provided on its top and bottom faces with clutch teeth 100a. A beveled gear 104 is mounted for rotation on driving shaft 101, which gear is preferably bored to receive a bushing 103 engaging shaft 101. Beveled gear 104 has a portion set into its lower end and secured therein having clutch teeth 104a thereon which are adapted to engage with the clutch teeth 100a on clutch 100. Beveled gear 104 meshes with another beveled gear 106 secured to the propeller shaft 108 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the motor casing 110. Another beveled gear 111 meshes with beveled gear 106 and is mounted for rotation on drive shaft 101. Gear 111 preferably is bored to receive a bushing 109 which engages shaft 101. Bushings 103 and 109 will be made of some anti-friction metal. Gear 111 has a portion set into and secured in its upper end on which are formed clutch teeth 111a adapted to engage with clutch teeth 100:: on the lower side of clutch member 100. Beveled gear 104 at its upper end has the end of its hub engaging a plate 114 secured to a portion 110a of casing 110, the same having a tongue or rib 114a set intoportion 110a. Plate 104 will preferably be made of anti-friction metal. A similar plate 115 is provided with which the lower end of gear 111 engages, plate 115 having a tongue or rib 115a set into a lower part 1101: of casing 110. Shaft 101 at a suitable point therein has secured thereto a collar 116 having an annular groove 116a in its periphery. Collar 116 is secured to shaft 101 in any suitable manner, as by the screw 118. On a portion 1100 of the casing a lug 119 is provided to which a lever 120 is secured by the pivot 121. Lever 120 has its inner end disposed in the groove 116a. Lever 120 is provided with a lug 120a and a grip lever 121 is pivoted to lug 120a by the pivot 122. Lever 121 has an inner end on which is formed a tooth 12111 adapted to enter any one of three recesses 110d, 110e and 110 Lever 121 is urged into position for engaging said recesses by a compression coiled spring 123, one end of which engages the lower side of lever 121, and the other end of which engages lever 120. Shaft 101 is shown as having a splined upper end fitting into the splined bore of the crank shaft 125 of the motor.

In the operation of the structure shown in Fig. 3, when the device is in neutral position the clutch member 100 will occupy the position shown in said figure. At this time tooth 122b is disposed in recess 110a. When it is desired to move into forward position the operator will grasp lever 120 and move the outer handle portion of lever 121 toward lever 120. This will withdraw tooth 12217 from notch 110e. Lever 120 is then swung in a clockwise direction to bring tooth 2122b into register with recess 11%. Tooth 12217 is allowed to enter recess 11012 by the action of spring 123. Said movement of lever 120 moves the drive shaft 101 downwardly and teeth 100a on the lower side of clutch member 100 are moved into engagement with teeth 111a on gear 111. Gear 111 is now rotated and rotates gear 106 which drives propeller shaft 108 so that the propeller will be rotated in a direction to move the boat to which the motor is attached forwardly. When it is desired to move into reverse the operator will similarly operate lever 120 and lever 121 to bring tooth 1221; into register with recess 110f. Tooth 122b will be allowed to enter recesss 110 by the action of spring 123. Such movement of lever 120 will move collar 116 and drive shaft 101 upwardly so that clutch member 100 will be moved upwardly and teeth 100a at the upper side thereof will engage teeth 10411 on gear 104. Gear 104 will now be driven and will drive gear 106 to rotate propeller shaft 108 and the propeller in a direction to move the boat to which the motor is attached rearwardly. The splined connection with member 125 permits the vertical movement of shaft 101.

It will be seen that the construction in Fig. 5 is a simple and eflicient one for operating the reverse mechanism.

From the above description it will be seen that we have provided a simple and easily operated reverse mechanism. The structure can be made comparatively cheaply and is very convenient. The structure has been amply demonstrated in actual practice, and found to be very successful and efiicient.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects above set forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a casing, a drive shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller movable to neutral, forward and reverse positions, a

vertically movable rod for placing said mechanism in said positions respectively, a sleeve surrounding said rod and secured thereto, means for moving said sleeve and rod to move said mechanism to said positions respectively, a steering member having a portion through which said rod and sleeve pass and a yielding connection between said steering member and casing.

2. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a casing, a drive shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller shaft journaled in said casing, a reversing mechanism connecting said shafts and movable to neutral, forward and reverse positions, a vertically movable rod for moving said mechanism, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat, a second bracket swingable relatively to said first mentioned bracket about a substantially horizontal axis and having a hub thereon, said rod passing centrally through said hub, a sleeve surrounding said rod and pass ing through said hub, a bushing surrounding said sleeve and passing through said hub, a hub on said casing through which said rod, sleeve and bushing pass, and resilient means in said last mentioned hub between said bushing and said last mentioned hub.

3. An outboard motor structure having in combination, a casing, a drive shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller shaft journaled in said casing, a reversing mechanism connecting said shafts and movable to neutral, forward and reverse positions, a vertically movable rod for moving said mechanism, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat, a second bracket swingable relatively to said first mentioned bracket about a substantially horizontal axis, said rod being connected to a sleeve, said sleeve being movable vertically with said rod, a member secured to said sleeve and movable therewith, and a lever on said second bracket movable by said sleeve, said first mentioned bracket having spaced surfaces adjacent said lever, said lever having a portion adapted to engage said surfaces respectively to prevent swinging of said second bracket when said rod and sleeve are moved to position to place said mechanism in reverse position.

4. An outboard motor srtucture having in combination, a casing, a drive shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller shaft journaled in said casing, a reversing mechanism for connecting said shafts movable to neutral, forward and reverse positions, a vertically movable rod for moving said mechanism, a bracket adapted to be attached to a boat, a second bracket swingable relatively to said bracket about a horizontal axis and having a hub, a steering member having a hub, said rod passing centrally through said hubs, a sleeve surrounding said rod and passing through said hubs, a bushing surrounding said sleeve and passing through said hubs, means connecting said hubs to said casing, and means on said steering means for moving said rod to operate said reversing mechanism.

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, said first mentioned means comprising a resilient connection between said first mentioned hub and said casing, and a resilient connection between said second mentioned hub and said casing.

6. A casing, a drive shaft journaled in said casing, a propeller shaft journaled in said casing, a reversing mechanism for connecting said shafts and movable to neutral, forward and reverse positions, a vertically movable rod for moving said mechanism, a steering member, a hollow handle on said steering member substantially cylindrical in cross section and swingable about a horizontal axis,

means connecting said rod and handle for moving saidrod when said handle is swung about said axis, a second rod movable longitudinally in said handle axially thereof, said steering member having a hub portion with a plurality of spaced recesses therein for respectively receiving said second rod, an upstanding member in said handle secured to said second rod and adapted to be References Cited in the filegf this patent TE STATES ATENTS Bivert May 2, 1916 Bivert Apr. 2, 1918 8 Mathias Oct. 31, 1933 Irgens Feb. 23, 1937 Gee Jan. 19, 1943 Riley Aug. 12, 1947 Kiekhaefer Tune 23, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany May 19, 1916 Italy 'Mar. 9, 1950 

